Contact: Tiffanie Blackmon-Jones ​ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Ofc. 972.223.6666 ext 8414 
Cell: 214.244.9627 
Email: t.blackmonjones@desotoisd.org 
Date: April 15, 2019 
 
Given the DeSoto ISD’s current financial standing, district leaders have developed a budget reduction
plan to not only address this year’s budget deficit but to rebuild the fund balance for the subsequent
school year.

The budget reduction plan proposes the following:

● Streamlining the district’s workforce

● a 15% - 20% reduction to all central office departmental budgets
● Closure or restructuring some positions and district programs
● Taking a campus offline and the eventual repurposing of a campus

These actions yield more than $20 million in district funding that will address this year’s budget deficit
and help to rebuild the 2019-2020 fund balance.

As a district, we are planning to transition into the next phase of this plan which focuses on
implementation. The implementation phase of the proposed budget reduction plan requires the district to
make difficult decisions regarding the structure and design of DeSoto ISD.

Pending Board approval of the proposed amendment to our district's structure, the Northside Elementary
community will be absorbed by Ruby Young and The Meadows Elementary. As a result of this decision,
the district has drafted a revision to elementary attendance zone lines and will provide an update
regarding revised attendance zones should the Board approve the change at tonight's special called board
meeting. If approved, the revised elementary attendance zones aims to re-assign students to their home
campus while also being intentional about balancing student enrollment numbers at the elementary level.

Last week, prior to tonight’s special called Board meeting, DeSoto ISD administrators held group-specific
meetings with campus staff and parents to communicate the proposed plan and field questions related to
the proposed plan prior to tonight’s presentation.
As a district, we understand the concerns related to temporarily taking a campus offline and aim
to be intentional in ensuring a high-quality educational experience for every student at regardless
of their assigned campus in DeSoto ISD.
 

About DeSoto Independent School District  

DeSoto ISD is a public independent school district serving more than 9,400 students and 1,300 employees. The
district is comprised of 15 campuses serving students from early childhood through graduation. A District of
Innovation, DeSoto ISD’s mission statement is preparing students academically and socially to be problem solvers
and productive citizens.

For more information about DeSoto ISD, visit www.desotoisd.org.

 
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